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Culpable homicide not amounting to murder: Court grants bail to kin after forensic report confirm woman died of ‘natural cause’

The court also observed that at this stage, except the statement of the complainant, there is nothing on record which could show that it is a homicidal death.

3 min readChandigarhDec 7, 2025 09:44 AM IST

A police vehicle had taken his mother to hospital for treatment but his mother was declared brought dead. (Express Photo)

A Chandigarh court has granted bail to a city resident in an alleged case of homicide after a postmortem report opined that the cause of death of the victim was “natural”.

Ajay Mittal, in an FIR, told police that he along with his mother Santosh and his uncle Ashok Mittal used to live in Sector 36, Chandigarh. He alleged that his uncle has 50 per cent share in this house, which was planned to put for sale. Ajay said he and his mother wanted to live in the house for a few months being co-owners of the property. According to the FIR, on August 20, 2025, at about 11.10 pm, his uncle manhandled and assaulted his mother. At that time, he was away to Sector 35, Chandigarh for some work and when he returned, his mother was found unconscious.

A police vehicle had taken his mother to hospital for treatment but his mother was declared brought dead. According to Ajay, his uncle and aunt are responsible for the death of his mother. A FIR was thus registered under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Ashok.

Advocate Harish Bhardwaj, counsel for Ashok, argued before the court that the postmortem report of the deceased does not show any external mark of the injury on the person of deceased. Bhardwaj further argued that viscera and other part of the deceased were sent to CFSL, Chandigarh and after perusing its report, the doctor has opined that cause of death in this case could be acute coronary insufficiency in a pre-existing case of chronic ischaemic heart disease, a natural cause.

“Since the cause of death in this case is natural, no useful purpose will be served by detaining the applicant in further custody. Trial of the case will take sufficiently long time, so, it is prayed that the applicant be released on bail,” the counsel said.

The public prosecutor, however, opposed the bail plea, while arguing that the accused committed a serious offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and in case, the applicant is released on bail then he may misuse the concession of bail.

The Court of Ashwani Kumar, Additional District and Sessions Judge, on hearing the contentions held that the postmortem report of deceased Santosh does not “reveal any mark of external injury on her person”.

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“It is a case, where there is no eyewitness as the complainant had found her mother unconscious on his return from Sector 35, Chandigarh. The doctor who conducted the postmortem has opined that the cause of death in this case could be acute coronary insufficiency in a pre-existing case of chronic Ischaemic heart disease, a natural cause,” the court noted.

The court also observed that at this stage, except the statement of the complainant, there is nothing on record which could show that it is a homicidal death.

“Since the investigation has already been completed and it is a case of natural death, no useful purpose will be served by detaining the applicant in custody for sn indefinite period,” the court held while allowing the bail plea of the accused.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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